Kranji best bets and tips – Saturday 15 January 2022

VALUE BET – STREET PARTY (Race 1)
TOP BET – LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO (Race 10)

RACE 1 – 06:00 | Class 5 Handicap | 1400m

Selections: 1/6/3

STREET PARTY downgraded with an 80% top-three strike rate over track and distance. Yet to win but has never run a bad race on the short course over 1400m. Trialled super and looks in good order for this weekend. PERFECT was beaten by 0.7 lengths by Den Of Thieves who has franked the form winning a Class 4 a fortnight ago. Trialled well, looks like a big threat here. WIND OF LIBERTY has not seen publicly since last start fourth on November 20 where he was beaten by less than a length. Have to respect that run and consider him here as one you cannot leave out of the exotics.

RACE 2 – 06:30 | Open Maiden | 1200m

Selections: 7/12/14

DANCING TYCOON trialled up in superb order not only running okay time under a hold, but in a tight finish cluttered up with a horse either side. Bred for speed, so 1200m could be as far as he wants to go. HOLY ELEANOR, although she is yet to break through, she ran second last start for the fifth time in her eight-start career behind Attila and showed signs that a win isn’t far away. Major player here.  is an ex-Queensland galloper stepping out for first Singapore start. Went to the line with Grand Koonta in a nose margin finish. Got a nice hit-out and was asked to find late but looks in good order for first Kranji start.

RACE 3 – Time: 07:00 Kranji Stakes C – 1600m

Selections: 2/4/3

KING’S COMMAND lost no admirers in the Singapore Gold Cup in November. Did pinch some ground off the winner Lim’s Lightning, but it wasn’t enough despite the massive pull in weights of eight kilos. Mile a touch short but suits first-up. Big say. RED OCEAN costly failure last time out, but had excuses from wide barrier in a small field. Back in a race likely to be a battle of wits with only six runners. Can make amends from gate No 2 this time. Yet to score over the trip but may well be stablemate King’s Command’s biggest threat. ON LINE didn’t run badly last start. Was coming off his unplaced Singapore Gold Cup run at previous start. Freshened up and will be in the mix at the business end.

RACE 4 – Time: 07:30 Class 4 Handicap -1000m

Selections: 1/2/9

KING ARTHUR very smart win last start over this distance. Jumped wide and covered ground but still too strong and he will be hard to hold out again in this. SKY EYE meets a field where he is a genuine Top 3 player. A consistent galloper who has just run into some tougher opposition but never far away in a finish. SNIP on the quick back-up after last week where he finished in fourth position, not far from the winner. Likes the distance and can sneak into the multiples up in class again.

RACE 5 – 08:00 | Class 5 Handicap | 1600m

Selections: 1/7/11

DON DE LA VEGA’s last trip down to Class 5 for mile contest in June 2021, he won and went straight back to Class 4. As a result, he needs to be respected amongst this quality of company again. FORESTO‘s last run on the all-weather was super impressive. Back to the turf here with weight relief again from Jerlyn Seow Poh Hui. Draw a slight concern but last start had plenty of merit and has to be respected here. SUN ACE is back to the right mark now to show his best. Needed the run after knocking up quite bad in the final stages. Expecting him to be making his own luck up in front and being the one they are chasing home.

RACE 6 – | 08:30 Novice Plate | 1200m

Selections: 1/3/2

ILLUSTRIOUS Manoel Nunes has done plenty of work with this gelding during the break and the trainer/jockey combination boasts 70% together, so you must respect. One for one over the course and distance. ROCKETSHIP had a very respectable run last start behind King Arthur who looks set to win again this week in a different race. She does her best racing on this surface and will be running on. ATTILA won an Open Maiden at his very first start here. Looked to do it with ease but now needs to step up against some more experienced winners.

RACE 7 – 09:00 | Class 4 Handicap | 1000m

Selections: 2/1/4

COUSTEAU key booking with Manoel Nunes on and thrives over this distance where all five of his career victories have come. Big player and the one to beat. HAPPY MOMENT was scratched from his last start and looks set to be a key runner in this. Only the one start over the distance and was victorious on that occasion. HYDE PARK only a small field here and they will be flying along early. He won’t be far away from them and could sneak into the top three at a distance he goes well at.

RACE 8 – 09:30 | Class 5 Handicap | 1400m

Selections: 4/5/7

CIZEN LUCKY rarely runs a bad one in this grade so that should give punters some confidence. Copped interference in the straight and was beaten 0.3 lengths. Returned just before the new year for trial and was well held together throughout. BIG MARY big-trial win to the eye. On the clock, however, he came home in a respectable time for a Class 5 runner. Overall, she looks in good order for her first run of 2022. SEE YAH this son of Helmet will be looking for an honest pace and if he gets that, he should be running on from the back late. Now with a new stable, so the downfall is there isn’t much of a guide on how he is going.

RACE 9 – Time: 10:00 Kranji Stakes A -1200m

Selections: 7/2/4

STARLIGHT was runner-up to stablemate Celavi in the Merlion Trophy, and who will be more at home on turf and can turn the tables. He jumps from a low draw and looks well in on weights. KHARISMA cut Celavi back a little in the Merlion Trophy but was left with too much to do from the trip out wide. Handier barrier can see a reversal of fortunes. CELAVI is a brilliant mare who has both settled better and strengthened up. Turf remains unconquered territory, but trainer is convinced she can handle it. If she does, the others will probably see a clean set of heels again. From the wide gate, she may take a drop on leading bunch.

Race 10 – Time: 10:30 Class 3 Handicap – 1200m

Selections: 4/2/5

LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO is unbeaten and looks all poised to make it five wins in a row even if he is rising in class. All four wins were recorded over course and distance. Hard to beat. HADEER is a game sort who seldom puts a foot wrong. Maps well for this race but will have to beat the top selection. IRONCHAMP is on the quick back-up after his gutsy third to Be Bee last Saturday. May have to do some work from wide alley to press forward. Not without place claims.

Race 11 – Time: 11:00 Class 4 Handicap-1400m

Selections: 1/3/2

AMAZING BREEZE hard to get past him on the back of his dominant win at his last start. Beat a handy field and tackles an easier lot here but at the same time, he shoulders the top weight. Four-kilo claim from Malaysian apprentice Akmazani Mazuki does give some relief. Will be in the firing line for a long way despite the wide draw. SHEPHERD’S HYMN bounced back to form last start with a closing third to Den Of Thieves on Polytrack. Reverts to turf over which he recorded his three wins to-date. Won’t surprise if he scores. STRONG N SMART never a factor at his last start. At the rear and never made presence felt. Competitive in this lot if on song. Don’t write him off just yet

Race 12 – Time: 11:30 Class 4 Handicap-1200m

Selections: 7/2/8

BRUTUS loves to get to the front and bowl along dictating the race. If he finds an easy lead and doesn’t go too hard, he will take some beating again. HIS GLORY stable is low-flying at the moment and he comes into this fresh off a break. Trialled nicely and has been competitive over this trip in the past. LIM’S BESTBREAKER finished off last year with a nice second behind Valorous in a similar style event. Watch any market moves for support.

PA:

1,2,3/1,2,4/4,5,7/2,7/2,4/1/2,7

R216